NASCAR Cup Series

Risk vs. reward: Drivers need to weigh options at Sonoma Raceway

Published Jun. 22, 2015 4:35 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Larry McReynolds

So we take to our first road course of the year at Sonoma Raceway this weekend. I have zero reason to believe that the racing won't be as aggressive, if not more so, this year as ever before there.

I mean let's face it: The sand in the hourglass is rapidly running out for those drivers who haven't won a race yet this year or are just outside of where they need to be in points.

Like I always say every year at this time when we head to Sonoma, expect the first 60 or 70 laps on Sunday to be nice and calm. All the drivers will mind their manners and behave. It's when the spotters or crew chiefs get on the radio and in the driver's ear and say, "There are only 10 or 15 laps to go" that things could get crazy. That's when you can expect these drivers to lose their minds.

Of all the tracks we go to, it's just one of those places where you can be aggressive and it's easy to get by with it because you aren't running a high rate of speed there.

As the laps wind down, most drivers are on old tires, which cause them to be slipping and sliding around. Nobody dives into the pits and get tires late unless the cautions fall in the right place.

It's just easy to overdrive getting into Turn 2 or Turn 7 or Turn 11 and root a fellow competitor out of the way. Once off the track there you are either in a tire barrier or in dirt.

So look for a lot of aggressiveness this Sunday on FOX Sports 1 from Sonoma. Most times these drivers will be able to get away with it. When it really gets interesting is when it happens and they can't get away with it!

VIDEO: A look back at how A.J. Foyt came back from the dead after wreck on the road course at Riverside

share

Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

NASCAR Cup Series